Scottish Catholic Observer

Nicholas McDonald, a 16-year-old pupil at St Aidan’s High School in Wishaw and a finalist in The X Factor, has remained very active in school events while taking part in the televised singing contest.

Nicholas is in his last year at St Aidan’s and his head teacher Anthony Rooney told the SCO that all staff and pupils are ‘immensely proud’ of him.

“We are all behind him and wish him the best of luck with the rest of the show,” Mr Rooney said. “He is a bright boy and we know he will go far in whatever he does.”

Earlier this year Nicholas and six other classmates came together to form band the Easy Company, which went on to win Battle of the Bands in Motherwell Theatre.

This came as no surprise to Mr Rooney who said: “We always knew they were in with a shout. We were delighted they won it as there are 24 schools in North Lanarkshire but the boys knocked it out of the park.

“We’re thrilled for Nicholas as we’ve known how talented he is for a number of years,” he added.

Those who attended the Mass at Motherwell Cathedral to celebrate the launch of the Year of Faith may remember Nicholas singing lead vocals during the Mass for which the school helped with the musical Liturgy.

It may come as a surprise to some, however, now that Nicholas has reached X Factor live shows, to discover that he has stayed very active in school activities. Mr Rooney told the SCO that Nicholas participated with the school choir at the Patron’s Day Mass at the end of August and again in the choir when the school provided the musical Liturgy for the Mass at Carfin Grotto in September, attended by 4000 students and teachers from across the diocese. His visit to the X Factor Judge’s Houses for the TV competition took place between both these events.

“To be in the live shows is amazing and overwhelming as I never thought I’d be here and I am so thankful to be in this position, I hope I do Louis [Walsh] and everyone proud,” Nicholas said. “I just hope make it to the final and do my best.”

St Aidan’s High School community is right behind Nicholas, particularly the senior students. They devised and are taking part in a fund-raising activity to support Nicholas and his favourite charity along with trying to keep life as normal as possible for him.

Nicholas and his parents pop into the school whenever possible, Mr Rooney added, and all students and staff are very proud of him and his achievements to date.

— Cardinal Newman High School student Anne Timmons has just completed a week’s work experience with the SCO

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—This story ran in full, with additional photographs, in the October 25 edition print of the SCO, available in parishes.